SEATTLE – In the world of modern professional sports, there simply aren’t many stories like Jordan Morris’. There are certainly plenty of players who eventually go on to feature for their hometown team, but few who have enjoyed Morris’ heights.
Already having won two MLS Cups and a Concacaf Champions League, Morris added “Sounders all-time leading scorer” to his list of accomplishments on Saturday. Immediately after scoring, he pointed to the sky, kissed the Sounders badge and then embraced his teammates.
“It’s a huge honor,” Morris said in the postgame locker room. “To even have my name on that list with other great players from the present and past, having grown up here, being a fan of the team, going through the academy and sitting in the stands, knowing I want to be on the field someday to be here now is huge.
“It means everything to me to play for this club and have my name in the history books is a really special moment.”
The record-breaking goal also happened to be the game-winner. Coming in as a halftime substitute, Morris collected a pass from fellow native Seattleite Paul Rothrock and blasted it through the legs of LAFC goalkeeper Thomas Hasal. The goal made the score 3-1 in what would finish as a 5-2 win.
It was Morris’ 87th goal of his Sounders career and his third this season, pushing him past Raúl Ruidíaz. He remains three goals short of Ruidíaz’s team record for goals in the MLS regular season.
“I told him I’ll always remember him for that assist,” Morris said. “It’s a cool Seattle connection. It’s a special moment.”
Of Morris’ 87 goals, 45 have come in the four seasons since he returned from his second ACL tear. Last year, he set a career highs with 14 MLS goals and 18 goals across all competitions. That performance triggered a clause in his contract that now makes him a Designated Player.
He seems to be welcoming the pressure that status brings.
“When I play angry, I think it helps me play better,” Morris said. “I want that pressure of being the guy to help the team, push the team forward, help the team win games.”
That the record-breaking goal came against longtime nemesis LAFC, only served to make the accomplishment even more sweet. It was actually his second goal in as many games against LAFC, having scored the game-winner in last year’s Western Conference quarterfinal.
The Sounders have now beaten LAFC twice in a row after going winless in 10 straight.
“That team had kind of turned into a bogey team for us,” Morris said. “Hopefully, that’s starting to change.
“But what a performance by the group. Everyone who started the game, everyone who came into the game. To have a performance like that, it’s a special day for the whole team. It’s a fitting moment to score that goal.”
